Here is a tiny picture of Simone Martini's altar piece (ca. 1333),originally displayed in the Siena Duomo, called The Annunciation with Two Saints. Fortunately, if you click on the picture, you'll get a somewhat larger view (or better yet,come with us and see it for yourself in the Uffizi Museum in Florence!). Born in Siena in 1280, Martini was one of the most original and influential artists of the Sienese school. Building on the techniques for indicating three-dimensional space developed by the Sienese master Duccio Di Buoninsegna, Simone added a refined contour of line, graceful expressions on his figures, and an amazing serenity of mood.
That's St. Ansanus on the left, the patron saint of Siena. He was a 4th century Sienese nobleman who converted to Christianity when he was twelve years old, preached his new faith, and was executed for it when he was only twenty. He holds the banner of the Resurrection in one hand and the martyr's palm in the other, as does the female saint on the right. That's St. Guiletta, another martyr who was killed along with her son by the Roman Emperor Diocletian.
But the really important part of this painting is the centerpiece depicting the Annunciation. The archangel Gabriel speaks the words of greeting recorded by Luke, "Ave Maria, gratia plena, dominus tecum." That is, of course, "hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." It's hard to see in a reproduction, but the words are actually painted on, and issue forth from Gabriel towards Mary, who seems to pull backward in fear and confusion. Apparently the angel startled her as she was sitting in her garden reading a book. In most depictions, Gabriel holds a lily, but here it has been replaced by an olive branch because the lily was the emblem of Siena's arch-rival and enemy, Florence. However, those are lilies in the vase beside her, a traditional symbol of purity and virginity, that you'll see in countless paintings of the Virgin mother and other chaste saints.
Teresa and I particularly like the lovely gilded paintings in the Sienese style. We are also partial to paintings of the Annunciation, Nativity, the Journey of the Magi, and such--as opposed to the more gruesome depictions of the Crucifixion and scenes of martyrdom and mayhem. In addition to the wonderful collection of Sienese paintings in the Uffiizi, there is a beautiful, well-designed museum in Siena itself that can easily be explored in about an hour during your free time on our day trip to that medieval city.
